Live Life & Love Life

February 7, 2017

The Secrets To Shopping at Ulta

PHOTO:Ulta

We feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland every time we walk into Ulta Beauty, mainly due to the flood of joy and fear that fills our bodies. Joy because of the vast array of products before us, just waiting to be tested and swiped, and a twinge of fear for the damage soon to be inflicted on our wallets. Luckily, there are a few key shopping secrets that will lessen the last emotion. Whether you are an Ulta Beauty regular and have separation anxiety with your Ultamate Rewards card or have only ventured into the megastore once (or never), we hope you’ll find this guide helpful. After all, the more you save… the more money you have for other beauty products, right? Or, you know, something like that.

Yesterday I got a email with really great deal. Buy 2 Ulta products get 2 free. Now I am not a fan of all of the brands products. But I do like the eyeliners and the lipsticks. So I opted for that. Be well aware when they do have sales that you get there that Sunday they come out. I got there later in the day and my Ulta was empty with most of the brands items where GONE!!! I shoulda gone to another Ulta. The sale is not over so I will hit another store this week!! ~Tiffany ♥

Get Gifts with Purchase

Gifts with purchase are one of our favorite parts of the Ulta Beauty shopping experience—like buying a cake then having someone be like, “Here, take some ice cream, too!” Not every gift with purchase may be advertised in store, so make sure to take a look at this section of Ulta Beauty’s website to see all the promotions before stopping in. Another tip? If you get a gift with purchase then end up returning the original purchase, you can keep the gift, according to Ulta Beauty’s return policy (which is also great in and of itself—you can return all products within 60 days of purchase). Does this mean you should only buy beauty products only to get the gifts with purchase, then return them all? Definitely not—just think of all the hassle. Instead, simply think of it as a gesture of goodwill—one that you wouldn’t want to take advantage of, lest it gets taken away.

Buy in-store

If you prefer to buy your beauty products from the comfort of your couch, we’ve got some motivation for you to get off your butt. According to this Ulta Beauty employee, stores may mark down certain products (up to 75%!) that aren’t selling well to make way for new inventory—price reductions that aren’t usually reflected online.

Check Ads

To stay on top of the newest products, it may actually be best to go the old-school route: by checking Ulta Beauty’s advertisements. You’ll find them in the pages of your favorite magazines, but also, feel free to find them all in one place right here.

Check Sales

Ulta Beauty is always, always having a sale—even when it’s not having a sale. What do we mean? There are always discounted products in the store—you just have to take some time to look for them. Or better yet, ask an associate to show you. In terms of major sales, always check in during Ulta Beauty’s 21 Days of Beauty sale, where one item is marked down at a greatly reduced price for one day only (this happens twice a year, usually during spring or fall). There’s a high chance you’ll find one of your favorite luxury products marked way, way down.

Find Coupons

Coupons might bring to mind images of old ladies furiously clipping and snipping pages of newspapers, but guess what—they’re still totally relevant, and Ulta Beauty has some great ones. If you sign up for their Ultamate Rewards program, you’ll most likely get mailed the much-coveted 20% off coupon at one point or other. (Also make sure to sign up for their emails, since they’ll often send email-only coupons). Ulta Beauty also accepts some third-party manufacturer coupons (i.e. coupons from the beauty brands, which you can find in magazines or newspapers), which you can pair with an Ulta Beauty store coupon to save even more. Just imagine the money you’ll save (and beauty products you’ll accrue)!

To make sure you always have the most recent Ulta Beauty coupons, you can always download the free Ulta Beauty app.

Get Birthday Points

We know we’ve already said this, but we’ll say it again: You should really get an Ultamate Rewards card. You’ll get one point for every dollar you spend, and with more points, come more discounts. One little-known fact: Whatever beauty products you buy during the month of your birthday will be counted as double points. So, treat yo’self.

Shop Clearance

We know we’ve talked about Ulta Beauty’s sales, but the clearance section will save you major money, too. Don’t leave the store without taking a look at their clearance section, which will usually house a wide variety of products. Want the first pick? Ulta Beauty stores do inventory a few times a year, and that’s when newer items go to clearance. To find out exactly when, just ask an employee. Another fun fact: Your coupons apply to clearance items, too.

Always Ask

The best way to save money at Ulta Beauty? Just ask the employees. When you’re checking out, always ask if any of your products qualify with a gift for purchase—don’t expect that they’ll always tell you first. Ask employees about clearance items, inventory dates, current promotions and coupons, and more. Do not hold back—that’s what they’re there for, after all.